fire | harry styles

t w e n t y t w o

>> it's hard to wake up from a nightmare if you aren't even asleep <<

[HARRY]

It was a little past midnight and I couldn't sleep due to the thoughts the floated in my head, how terrifying can tonight be? With my father around you never know how safe you are and it'll give you this uneasy, paranoid kind of feeling.

I sat up in bed, hugging my legs close to my chest just waiting for something to happen, like always. That's when I heard the front door slam open against the wall. I jumped up at the sound knowing that my mother was still downstairs. I quickly unfolded my legs and stood up to quietly leave my room and head out into the hallway. I made it to the top of the stairs and peeked my head from behind the wall. My eyes immediately looked at the tall, large figure that was standing at the door. The lighting was dim but I didn't need good lighting to see that he was past drunk.

As I watched I felt a gentle hand lay on my shoulder and I turned my head to face Gemma who stood behind me and gave me a weak, unsure smile. I sighed and turn my attention back to my father who stood at the door way. This was a nightly routine, he would come home from work completely wasted and then he would take it out on us. Mostly our mum but sometimes Gem and I too.

"Anne!" His voiced echoed through the house and I cringed at the way he said my mother's name, like it was worthless. My mother came running into the room and stood right in front of him but had her head bowed down in shame. I hated the way she let him push her around and wouldn't let me defend her, she's a saint.

"Look at me!" His hand rested on her chin as he harshly brought her face up to face him. I quickly tensed up but Gemma rubbed her hand on my shoulder to calm me down.

From the distance I could see my mum's body shaking from fear and I wanted nothing more than to run to her and give her a hug and reassure her that everything will be okay. But I couldn't.

"I hope you cooked me dinner tonight, or else things won't end too happy." His voice was mockingly low and it only helped ignite my anger and hatred for him. My mum only nodded her head and let out a couple sobs.

"You know how stressful my job is and coming home to this shitty place doesn't help..." It was silent for a second before he slapped my mum so hard that she stumbled and tripped over herself, causing her to fall onto the floor with a loud thud. That was all it took for me to lose control over myself.

Without thinking twice I got up and ran down the stairs. I heard Gemma yell my name out but I didn't bother to look back as she followed behind me. I felt a rush of adrenaline and anger mixed with pain flood my veins as I charged to him. All those years of pain that he's put us through only encouraged me more.

I jumped on him from behind and started throwing aimless punches at him while practically strangling him too. Although his frame is much, much larger than mine he still stumbled back a bit as I caught him by surprise. He let out a couple of throaty coughs as my grip around his throat only tightened as I tried to stay on him longer still unsure of what my intentions are. He had probably had enough when he swung my body over his shoulder and slammed me against the cold floor. I let out a groan at the contact of the hard surface on my back.

I heard my mother let out a scream and Gemma ran to her side, kneeling down next to her. I slowly got up with the pain still spreading through my back, trying to catch my breath. I got back on my feet only to find a gun pointed straight at me. I froze, staring at it with my mind gone blank.

"Des, p-please don't." All I could hear was my mother's fragile voice and my heart slamming against my chest.

"Shut up! Stay out of this!" He screamed which would've caused me to flinch but instead I stood still as tears blurred my vision but my pride wouldn't let them fall. Before he could do anything I reached out, placing my hands on his, to move the gun to point to the ceiling. He instinctively pulled the trigger which shot through the surface above us causing some dust to fall onto the floor. The gun shot was still ringing through my ears when he kicked me behind my knees and I fell forwards but I was quick to slap the gun out of his hand. It flew through the air and landed a couple of feet away from where we were standing.